Minnesota stalwarts The New Standards create an intriguing blend of everything from classiccabaret to punk rock, from the freedom of jazz, to the soul of pop and rock. Theymake it work through sheer musicianship and offbeat humor. The instrumentation is simple: John Munsonof Trip Shakespeare/Semisonic fame on bass; Chan Poling, founder of the new-wave group The Suburbs on piano; and Steve Roehmon vibes. Chan and John split the singing. If that's not enough, a footstomp here, a shout-out, a fiery solo, and it's cooked. Simple, elegant, illuminating. "As a trio, they have made a practice of dressing uppunk and pop classics -"I Will Dare" by the Replacements gets a place in the pantheon -in jazz arrangements that overlay piano, upright bass and vibraphone...The DNA of the band and its members has its feetfirmly rooted into punk/pop culture."-NY Times